The Poultry Sector Board meeting took place on 24 February. As mentioned in my previous update much of the agenda was dedicated to discussion of the outcomes of the Farm Assurance Review (FAR). The Poultry Sector Board’s perspectives have since been shared with the Red Tractor Board of Directors, which has now published its response to the FAR. To accompany this announcement, I can now share the detail of the Poultry Sector Board’s discussion on the FAR.
The meeting began by collating the headline views of each board member on the main recommendations identified by the review. These views were collected for discussion alongside the summaries from the five others board meetings for discussion at the Standards Committee meeting held on 4 March.
Overall feedback from the Sector Board members included the required timelines needed to implement some of the recommendations made in the review. Some recommendations are easier to implement more efficiently than others and, in our sector, technology can assist us in successful implementation and in providing the improvements required to work collaboratively across the industry and to reduce the audit burden on farmers.
The consensus of the Sector Board was just how important the need for listening, transparency and ongoing dialogue with farmers is to the successful implementation of the FAR outcomes. Our farmers must see the continued value of farm assurance for their business.
The FAR recognised the burden of audit on farmers and the need for further reduction and a more pragmatic approach to be taken. This was welcomed by the Sector Board and discussions suggested the need for a cultural and practical approach with a reduction in bureaucracy and audit duplication. To assist in this, the Sector Board were clear that, it is important to continue the work of assessor engagement to ensure that assessors are upskilled and retained.
The Sector Board welcomed the recommendations of the FAR and the opportunity to work collaboratively with the industry to further improve and safeguard the process of assurance for all within the supply chain.
Kind regards,
Iain Gardner,
Chair, Red Tractor Poultry Board
Poultry Board members:
Clay Burrows – QBT
James Mottershead – NFU
Gavin Foster – BPC
Philip Wilkinson OBE – BPC
David Neilson – Integrator
Tom Meeson – British Retail Consortium
Natalie Smith – Retailer
David Gibson – BPC
Jonty Hay – NFU
Judith Irons – TAC Chair
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